The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-10-06

Of fearful anguish. His head was barred
and fallen, with look of deep despair.
His eyes sought beyond the veranda, cut
+ ting the very hlackness with their inten-
sity, and yet with distant look about
them. His lips, tightly compressed, were
blanched, as were likewise the cheeks, the
brow above them. The only hand she
saw hung stif1ly by his side, between the
fingers of which. was crushed half
smoked cigar. She tried to speak, to
walk, but could not, when, with mighty
effort, she made her way to. a door near
by, sprang up the stairs and sank. ex-
hausted on the floor Of. her room. She lay
there how long she knew not, trembling,
with that suffering face before her, when
she crept to bed. Her sister coming in
later was surprised to find her sleeping.
Why had she deserted them this their
last night, when they had been so jolly,
and Harold had kept them laughing with
his songs?
Theo smiled as she thought. When at
last she slept, Pauline opened wide her
eyes and stared at the darkness.
Harold, what was the matter with
him? What did it mean? That dream,
how plainly she remembered It; the first
night there by the window" She shivered.
How cold she wasl The0l would she
wake Theo? She lay and thought. An
hour passed. She had slept and awak-
ened; 1t. was about midnight.
She slept again and, waking, found the
darkness half gone. Her wrapper lay on
a chair close by. Under the blanket,
even, she was shiyering; and it looked
warm. She rose and wrapped 1t about
her, went to the window and looked out.
Listening there she heard voices In the
distance. They came from the negroes
quarters, 80 she knew they had returned.
She tried to leave the window to go to
bed, but something held her. The half
light was painful to her eyes, and, shield
ing them with her hand, she waited for
the sun to burst. She would see it for
the last time In all its splendor In the
southern land. A cleaning bit Of white
stuff caught her sight. It appeared to be
wound around the trees trunk.
Some remnant of the ball, she thought.
She still was looking at It when the sun
directed her powerful rays full upon it
on face with eyes wide open meeting it
unf1inchingly partedl lips and still
brow. With O cry which woke her sister,
Pauline pointed to the dead face Of
Natella, staring at her-at the sun.
The birds had begun their fighting and
their songs. The acorns still were drop
ping and the leaf swept not the cheek of
Pauline but the cold glass Of the closed
window, and seemed to mind not.
=
The servants knew nothing. and could
but sob and wiring their hands. 'tLord,
Almighty! Lord, Almightyw was their
refrain. Taute sternly, with the tears
running down her cheeks, questioned
separately one and all as they gathered
together in the drawing room. Up stairs
was the doctor. He now came and, with
his hand resting on the door, bowed to
Tante. Is
s.The girl has been poisoned. She was
overtaken, my dear lady, without doubt,
by the spasms in the spot where she was
found AS the servants tell me, she left
them apparently well at their quarters to
come to her room in the house."
The doctor bowed solemnly and was
shown out Tante motioned the fright
ened group away. 'sNo crying, no
scfeeching, near this house." She said it
flercely as they went by.
"Tante, dear, but it is better we should,
leave tonight, for you see how excited
Pauline is, and the change is necessary ut
once for herr
Theo stroked the white hand gently.
"Yes,n the answer came sadly. "Pau-
line is not hersef.n
\ Harold went with them to the station,
and Pauline wondered why it was that no
one saw, as shes esdid, how old and harsh
looking he had grownl
ssHarold," they are standing alone to-
gether at the station. Harold, found
this in the cushion of the carriage coming
here" He caught her hand which held
the ring and pressed it tightly. His face
was turned from hers. The ring pierced
her cruelty, and involuntarily he ex-
claimed: "Cousin, sweet little cousin, a
thousand pardons and as many thanks.
The ring was on his finger. The hat was
close drawn over his eyes. The train COM
ing in, Pauline hastened for the last time
to bid goodby to Taute.
"Your ear, dear, give it to me. must
Whisper She drew her down.
s'.Pierre, you know Pierre, my handsome
coachman. He has not been seen since
last night, and I heard he was in bad
temper ut the ball because Natella proudly
refused to dance with him. He must have
mixed the poison at the supper. Natella,
my beautiful Natella," and weeping BIT
terly Pauline left her, with the curtains
Of her carriage closely drawn.
Harold Graham, a week after the girls
departure, sailed for Europe, to be gone
for several years. Tante, dear soul, was
broken hearted about it, as well as-Theo.
Roma Virginia in The Home Journal.
ro,n. a. votobta